Page 28 - March 2008 • Southern California Gaming Guide

by Anna Tenant
One person. One tribe. One earth. ese words sum up the commitment of the Barona Band of Mission Indians and Barona Valley Ranch Resort and Casino to the environment. e leaders and members of the Barona Tribe have long recognized and honored their heritage of living in harmony with nature, and have worked with care to conserve the natural resources of their reservation and its properties. With the Barona Valley Environmental Sustainability Program, the Tribe has adopted new technologies along with a number of other approaches to reclamation and conservation on the grounds of the Barona Valley Ranch Resort and Casino. ese e orts have recently earned signi cant national recognition to add to the number of awards and certi cations the
Tribe has already received for their commitment. In October 2007 the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency honored the Barona Band of Mission Indians as second-place winners of the EPA National Clean Water Act Recognition Award for “demonstrated creative and outstanding practices.”
“We have always been extremely committed to upholding our ancestors’ respect for nature by implementing the most e ective water, energy, and resource conservation program possible throughout our property,” Tribal Councilman
Adam Reyes said in accepting the EPA award on behalf of the Barona Tribe.
Water Recovery and Reclamation
Barona’s leaders have a substantial history of putting into practice the activities that support their tradition of commitment to honor the natural world. In 1994 plans were set in place and work was begun on the state-of- the-art water reclamation facility, which began operating in February of 2000. One of the most progressive in Southern California, the facility uses pioneering processes to produce cleaner water at a higher usable volume—safely and e ciently. Barona retrieves all water resources it uses as the result of this leading-edge and highly praised water recovery program. By carefully supervising and controlling all moisture and water recovery, managing irrigation, wisely using energy and other resources, and thoughtfully choosing native plants
and grasses on the resort and in the reservation, Barona has been able to contribute very successfully to water conservation e orts within the area of the Barona Valley.
Reclaimed water irrigates the resort’s world-class, award-winning 18-hole Barona Creek Golf Club course, whose greens are planted with drought-resistant grasses. Reclaimed water is also used on the grounds of the Barona Valley Ranch Resort and Casino, where plantings include varieties of grasses and mature oak trees native to the area. Barona’s water reclamation program has also brought about a reduction of energy use throughout the resort and the reservation.
Barona employs a fulltime laboratory and development director, who makes certain that reclamation and conservation e orts on the property meet or exceed EPA standards. e National Clean Water Act award is given for “demonstrated creative and outstanding practices in the Small Advanced Plant category,” according to Benjamin Grumbles, assistant administrator of the EPA. Experts in the eld consider the Barona water reclamation facility to be one of the most forward-looking and advanced treatment plants in Southern California.
Respecting the Environment—Recycling and Conserving Resources
For Barona, respecting the environment and making wise use of the resources of the Barona Valley without upsetting its natural balance goes beyond conservation of water. Barona is one of the largest recyclers in San Diego County, and while guests may not always be aware of it when we visit the resort and casino, recycling and other similar e orts to conserve and use every resource wisely are happening all around us.
Employees regularly collect recyclables from trashcans throughout the resort property. In o ces, recycling of metals, batteries, ink cartridges, computer equipment, light bulbs, and even furniture is always going on. Barona won two awards in 2005 and one award in 2006 for its successful recycling practices.
Barona has thought of and established additional ways to minimize the environmental impact of the resort and casino property on its setting. Whenever we are weekend or multiple-night guests at the Barona Valley Ranch Resort and Casino, we are also doing our part for the environment if we follow the suggestion of our hosts to reuse towels and linens in our rooms. Windows in all resort accommodations have dual panes for energy e ciency, and when rooms and suites are not occupied, drapes are closed and temperature controls are turned o . All furnishings, carpets, and construction materials are chosen for their low volatile compound emissions, and even cleaning products used on the property are selected with people and the environment in mind.
In another successful conservation e ort, energy- e cient lighting is employed in all areas of the Barona
Page 28
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GAMING GUIDE
March 2008